ICC World Cup 2023: Step-by-step warm-up for batsmen at Motera!

The long staircase (in between the stands) which teams use to get to the turf from their dressing rooms. Pics/Subodh Mayure

The Narendra Modi Stadium here is known as the world's largest cricket stadium with a capacity of around 1.30 lakh. Even the distance from the dressing rooms to the pitch area is huge. We learn that a batsman has to come down 90-plus steps to hit the turf, a nice warm-up before taking guard.

England's star one-drop batsman Joe Root (86-ball 77), who arrived at the crease after opener Dawid Malan's (14) dismissal in eighth over, must have experienced the same feelings. And the warm-up helped him to be red hot.

Also Read: ICC World Cup 2023: Fruitful start for Kiwis

Mixed feelings for AIR commentator Kishore

The World Cup is the ultimate stage to showcase a player's talent. Ditto coaches and umpires. Throw in commentators in the mix too. And like players, they too miss their mentors at big events.

Mumbai-based commentator S Kishore in Ahmedabad

Ask Mumbai-based S Kishore who did commentary for All India Radio during Thursday's England v New Zealand game here.

Kishore is soaking in the thrill of commentating in his eighth cricket World Cup across formats.

"I am missing my mentor Suresh Saraiya today, someone who I learnt a lot about this game from," Kishore told mid-day on Thursday. Saraiya passed away in 2012.

"One of my earliest colleagues in the commentary box was Ifthikar Ahmed [famous Pakistani broadcaster]. It's a privilege to commentate in 20 plus World Cup games since 1996," remarked Kishore.